Meet the Leprecons
The Leprecons are a drinking band with an Irish problem that seriously has fun, or is funnily serious, about Irish drinking songs.
Their trademark is having a rousingly good time with the audience who are encouraged to sing along as best they can and with all their might.
Singing the correct words is also encouraged but not strictly enforced since they are, after all, Irish, Scottish, and English pub songs.
JD "Mad Dog" Gonzales
WANTED: excessive blarneying
Guitar, vocals, storyteller & booking agent
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​JD developed his musical style and presence with the long-running bluegrass and Americana band "Angels' Share." Seeking out his desire to fuse crowd-pleasing performances with Irish pub sounds he founded the Leprecons which, of course, gives him ample opportunities for blarneying.
Kirk "Red Beard" Griffes
WANTED: possession of craic
Mandolin, whistle, vocals, sound engineer & webmaster
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A Grand Rapids native with a microphone addiction and a passion for great sounds and great times. Kirk enjoys playing and learning multiple instruments as well as being the technical ninja of the group.
Andrew "Golden Kid" Veenstra-Banning
WANTED: tom foolery
Fiddle & social media
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Originally a Massachusetts kid, Andrew came up making the rounds at festivals and contests in the northeast before deciding to take his fiery fiddle out west. (Well, midwest, anyway...!) As a new resident of The Mitten, he established a reputation for fooling every Tom, Tommy, and Thomas he came across, his golden grin proving itself a mischievous misdirection to even the savviest of Sam's. Luck may have lured him to the Leprecons, but the Golden Kid reserves the right to fool the occasional Tom.
Owen "Big O" Sharpe
WANTED: slapping the bass
Bass & vocals
Derek "Drunken Drummer" Detman
WANTED: drunk & disorderly in an art gallery
Drums & vocals
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​As a percussionist and professional boozehound, Derek has a strong love for music and merriment. He thoroughly enjoys playing for an audience, having some drinks and partaking in some pure unadulterated laughter.